Tricycle for invalids



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

.0. AQ-WAY;

TRIOYOLE FOR INVALIDS. No. 605,530. Patenteddune 14, 1898.

WITNESS mmv ran K W Br A 6 g v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

C.- A. WAY. TRIGYGLE FOR INVALIDS.

No; 605,530. Patented June 14, 1898.

' WITNESS INVENT W Br A M ATTORNEY l UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCEt TRICYCLE FOR IYNVALIDS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 605,530, dated June 14, 1898.

Application filed October 22, 1897. Serial No. 656,042. (No model.)

To ctZl whom it vii/cry concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES AVARAN WAY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at North Oharlestown, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tri- I cycles for Invalids, of which the following is a valids; and the object thereof is to provide an improved vehicle of this class which is simple in construction and operation and which is adapted to be propelled by mechanism operated by the hands; and with this and other objects in View the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in W11ich- Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved tricycle; Fig. 2, a front end View thereof; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 a bottom plan view of a partof my improved tricycle. In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts of my improve ment are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in the practice of my invention I provide a vehicle for the purpose herein specified which comprises a frame composed of two side bars 5, the rear ends of which are horizontal and the front ends curved downwardly and for wardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and the front and rear ends of which are connected bycrossbars 6 and 7, respectively, and arranged between the side bars 5 are two supplemental bars 8, which are secured to the front and rear cross-bars 6 and 7, and the rear ends of which are horizontal and the central and front portions of which are curved downwardly and forwardly, as shown in Fig. 3 The rear ends of the bars 8 are projected at 9 and connected by a cross-plate l0, and mounted below saidcross-plate is a fork 11, in which the guide-whee1 12 is mounted, and said fork is provided with an upwandly-directed steeringhead 13, which passes through theplate 10,

and withwhich is connected a combination steering and brake lever 14, one end of which projects forwardly and is adapted to bear upon the tire or perimeter of the guide-wheel 12, as shown at 15, and the free end of which extends I forwardly and is provided with a handle 16. The combination brake and steering lever 14 is adapted to move vertically on the steering'head 13, but cannot turn thereon, and by means of this construction the guidewheel 12 and the fork 11, in which it is mounted, may be turned in either direction whenever desired, and mounted at each side of the main frame of the vehicle or secured to the side bars 5 are short stub-axles 17, on each of which is mounted a large side wheel 18, and each of the Wheels 18 is provided at the center thereofwith a pinion 19, which is rigidly secured to the hub thereof and around which is placed a circular gear or ring 20, provided with gear-teeth on its inner perimeter. The circular gear or ring 20 is secured to the spokes 21 of the wheels 18, as shown at '22 in Fig. 4, and secured to the side bars in rear of the axles 17 are standards 23, each of which supports a pinion 24, and these pinions 24 are adapted to operate in connection with the pinions 19, which are secured to the hubs of the wheels 20.

Secured to the side bars 5 in front of the stub-axles 17 are bearings 25,with which are pivotally connected standards 26, each of which is provided at its upper end with pinions.

27, and the shafts 28 of the pinions 27 extend throughthe standards 26,and secured thereto are cranks 29, each of which is provided with a handle 30, and said handles project inwardly, as clearly shown in the drawings.

Connected with the standards 26 at each side is a rearwardly-directed rod 31, and these rack-bars 34 the said pinions 27 willbe thrown out of gear with the circular gears 20, and by movingsaid levers 32 until they engage with thrown into connection with the pinions 24.

It will be understood that when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the Vehicle is propelled by the pinions 27, which operate in connection with the circular gears 20, said pinions 27 being operated by turning the cranks 29, and when the pinions 27 are in the middle position or when the levers 32 engage the notches or recesses in the segmental gears 34 said pinions 27 will turn free, this being the position of said pinions when coasting, and when the vehicle is going uphill and it is desired to increase the power or the leverage of the cranks 29 the pinions 27 are thrown into engagement with the pinions 24, and when the pinions 27 are not in connection with the pinions 24 the pinions 24 run free or are simply idlers.

Arranged centrally of the frame of the vehicle is a seat 40, provided with a back 41, and this seat is supported on the central bars 8 by legs 42, and arranged transversely. of the frame of the vehicle and below the seat is a rod or bar 43,which is provided with upwardlydirected end extensions 44, which are secured to the side bars 5 in any desired manner, and

the object of the cross bar or rod 43 is to strengthen and brace the vehicle.

Passing over the rear cross-bar 7 of the main frame of the vehicle and connected with the central rods or bars 8 are straps 45, which are also intended to give strength to the frame, and I have shown a brake-shoe 46, which is pivoted to one side of the frame at 47 and with which is connected a rod 48, which is pivotally connected with a lever 49, which is pivotally connected with the side of the frame at 50, and by operating the lever 49 the brake-shoe 46 may also be caused to operate upon the adjacent side wall 18.

The steering-lever 14 need not necessarily be projected so as to form a brake-lever, as the brake-lever 49 is more convenient to the seat and is amply sufficient, and the entire apparatus is simple in construction and operation,andespecially that part thereof which constitutes the propelling mechanism.

In practice the occupant of the vehicle sits with his back to the guide-wheel 12, and the steering-lever 14 may be projected forwardly to, or approximately to, the seat 40, and other changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

1 have also shown in Fig. 5 a bottom plan view of the forward fork 11, the guide-wheel 12, and the support 10 of said fork, and said fork is provided with a rectangular head 25, and secured to the bottom of the plate or support 10 at 51 are springs 52, which bear on said head and which'normally hold the guidewheel 12 in central longitudinal line with the frame of the vehicle, and a single spring may be provided for this purpose, or two or more may be employed.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a vehicle having wheels at each side thereof, outer and inner gear-wheels carried by each of said wheels and concentric therewith, a gear-pinion mounted in a fixed position and in gear with said inner gear-wheel, and a driving gear=pinion movably supported between said outer and inner gear-wheels whereby it may be thrown into gear with either.

2. In a vehicle having wheels at each side thereof, outer and inner gear-wheels carried by each of said wheels and concentric therenected with the hubs of the side wheels, circular gears connected with said side wheels concentrically of said pinions, and provided with internal gear-teeth, pinions supported rearwardly of the hubs of said wheels and adapted to operate in connection with the pinions on said hubs, pivoted standards in front of the hubs of said wheels and provided with pinions, cranks mounted on the shafts of said pinions and rods connected with said standards and projected backwardly and c011- nected with levers pivotally connected with the frame, and segmental rack-bars in connection with which said levers operate, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of October, 1897.

' CHARLES AVARAN WAY.

Witnesses:

WV. 13. T. SMITH, HERBERT W. BOND. 

